El Mirage

The official program for the SCTA sanctioned event held May 25, 1947.

San Diego Prowlers charter member #7, Frank Wilkinson, at El Mirage Dry Lake on September 12, 1948. Wilkinson’s car, numbered 415B, recorded a top speed of 105.26 mph. Frank is also credited with suggesting the club’s name, “Prowlers,” reflecting their spirit of always being on the go. Photo from The San Diego Prowlers Collection, provided by Andy Bekech.

The cover of the program for a Rusetta Timing Association run held April 24, 1949

San Diego Prowlers member Frank Marsh (#34) with his 1932 Ford Victoria at El Mirage Dry Lake, September 16, 1950. Marsh’s Russetta Timing Association tag recorded a speed of 109.7 mph. Photo from The San Diego Prowlers Collection, provided by Andy Bekech.

El Mirage is a historic dry lake bed located in the Mojave Desert of Southern California, and one of the most legendary sites in land speed racing history. After Muroc was closed to the public during WWII, racers and hot rodders began using El Mirage in the early 1940s as their new testing ground. The Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) began holding official timed meets there, making it the heart of organized dry lake racing. Known for its hard-packed surface and wide open space, El Mirage has hosted generations of racers chasing speed, records, and tradition, and it continues to be active to this day.

The El Mirage dry lake is located about 125 miles north of Los Angeles, at the edge of the Mojave Desert.

El Mirage Meets of 1951

El Mirage April 21-22, 1951

El Mirage Meets of 1949

El Mirage May 29, 1949
El Mirage May 22, 1949
El Mirage May 7-8, 1949

El Mirage Meets of 1948

El Mirage November 7, 1948
El Mirage September 12, 1948
El Mirage July 17, 1948

El Mirage Meets of 1947

El Mirage May 25, 1947